 Prior to coaching he played football at the University of Texas, where he won a national championship and three conference championships, was named to the All-Conference team twice at two different positions and was named the 1973 Cotton Bowl Offensive MVP.At the University of Texas, Lowry was a two-sport athlete at Texas and a three-way player for the football team.During his sophomore and junior seasons he played defensive back, but in his senior year he was the team's starting quarterback.